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Uggla 'blindsided' by being left off NLDS roster

Uggla 'blindsided' by being left off NLDS roster

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez talks about having to make tough choices in setting the NLDS roster, which does not include Dan Uggla

By Mark Bowman and Eric Single
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MLB.com |

ATLANTA -- Dan Uggla has had time to deal with the anger he has felt since learning the Braves would not include him on their roster for the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. But that does not mean he has come any closer to understanding the decision.

"I'm not blind to my numbers," Uggla said. "I know what they are, but at the same time, I know what I've done in my career and I still know what I'm capable of doing. So I was kind of blindsided by it."

Uggla walked away from manager Fredi Gonzalez and general manager Frank Wren when they were informing him of the decision after Tuesday's workout at Turner Field. The veteran second baseman avoided reporters after Wednesday's workout, but chose to express his feelings as he and his Braves teammates were taking batting practice before Game 1 on Thursday night.

Though he is not on the roster, Uggla will be in uniform and with the Braves throughout this best-of-five series against the Dodgers. He could be added to the roster if a position player is injured during the NLDS. The injured player would be ineligible for the NL Championship Series.

"When something bad happens to you, your first reaction is anger," Uggla said. "Once that calms down, you can start thinking rationally. I didn't want to come [to Wednesday's workout]. But I knew it was the right thing to do. You don't feel part of the group. But once you get past that, calm down and realize your teammates still love you, it's whatever."

Uggla battled vision problems while hitting .179 -- the lowest batting average recorded by a qualified player since 1900 -- with 22 home runs and a .362 slugging percentage, which is the lowest mark produced by a player during a 20-homer season in baseball history.

After Uggla underwent LASIK surgery in August, the Braves brought him back with the hope he would start proving to be more consistent. But after Uggla hit .133 with a .366 on-base percentage in his first 41 plate appearances after the procedure, he found himself serving as a backup to Elliot Johnson, who enters the playoffs as Atlanta's starting second baseman.

Uggla ended up hitting .133 with 25 strikeouts and a .508 OPS in the 77 plate appearances he compiled after undoing the LASIK procedure. His strikeout rate (one every 3.08 plate appearances) was essentially the same as the NL-worst 3.14 mark he produced over the course of the entire season.

"It's disappointing, and then to not even have any kind of say in it," Uggla said. "It's hard for me with my numbers. I've had a great career so far. I know what I'm still capable of. I can change at any point in time. That's just the kind of player I am."

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. Eric Single is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.